TIMING OF FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE - THE ROLE OF SOCIAL-CONTROL, SOCIAL-LEARNING, AND PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

Prior research has pointed to several distinct processes that may affe ct the timing of first intercourse among adolescents. In the present s tudy, the role of six hypothesized processes was assessed in a sample of 289 rural adolescent boys and girls. Results support the importance of family socialization and problem behavior for both sexes, the role of biological factors for boys, and the role of social control proces ses for girls. Two other hypothesized influences-social class and poor psychosocial adjustment-were not supported in either gender These res ults indicate that multiple processes influence the timing of first in tercourse; thus, they underscore the need for eclectic predictive mode ls that incorporate the multiplicity of influences.